Francine becomes a category 2 hurricane, NHC says

(Reuters) - Hurricane Francine has intensified into a category 2 hurricane, with the eye nearing the Louisiana coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday.

"Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions spreading onto the Louisiana coast," the Miami-based forecaster said.

The hurricane was about 100 miles (160 km) west southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph), the NHC added.

(Reporting by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)